Meridia

Description

Meridia is an oral aneroxiant which reduces appetite and as a result leads to the loss of weight. Meridia was prescribed as a treatment for obesity together with a change in diet and exercise.

How it works

Meridia works with chemicals in the brain that affect weight gain, loss and maintenance. Meridia, more often known as sibutramine, is a monoamine reuptake inhibitor (MRI). MRIs are drugs that act as a reuptake inhibitor, in this case to noreprinephrine, by blocking the actions of monoamine transporters. Noreprinephrine increases heart rates and blood pressure, along with that it also increases the blood flow to skeletal muscles. MRIs reduce the uptake of not only noreprinephrine but also serotonin and dopamine, as a result increasing the levels of these in synaptic clefts, through this action it’s told to influence appetite.

In short, Meridia largely affects several of the chemicals in your brain that has roles to play in weight maintenance.

Uses

Meridia has several clinically significant interations. It’s orally administered for the treatment of obesity.

Dosage

Meridia is to be administered orally, and the recommended starting dose for this is usually 10mg once a day, either with or without food, depending on your doctor’s advice. Doses above 15mg are not recommended for daily administration, and to those who cannot handle 10mg, it’s always safer to opt for 5mg once a day. Typically, you’re expected to take this medication in the morning.

If the results are not visible after two weeks of continuous administration of the drug, the dosage can be increased up to 15mg, only if recommended to do so.

Side effects

There are several general side effects when concerning Meridia, such as;

Headaches Abdominal pains Chest pains Flu syndrome Back pains

There are also several other major side effects, which fall under numerous categories as follows;

You are advised to inform your doctor if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, seizures, depression, and history of gallstones and if you’re either under 16 or over 65 before taking Meridia.

Inform your doctor about all the medication you are currently administering, so that no reaction takes place.

Meridia may impair your reactions and thinking patterns, so avoid carrying out activities that require alertness and full concentration.

You’re advised not to administer Meridia if you have taken an MOA inhibitor, as life threatening consequences can occur if you take Meridia before the MOA has completely left your system.

Self-care

It is not known if Meridia effects pregnancy, so consult your doctor and inform him if you’re pregnant. It’s also unclear whether the meridian passes from breast milk onto infants, so ask your doctor before nursing a baby. It is not to be administered to anyone below the age of 16.